Watch: Get a first look at the 2018 Chinese New Year Lumiere show

Take a sneak peak at the stunning Chinese New Year show and all the important info you need to plan a perfect weekend in China Town.

The town has been painted red in anticipation for this weekend’s Chinese New Year celebrations and you’re in for a memorable three day spectacle of light, sound, performance and more. Kicking off at 7pm on Friday 16th February 2018 with celebrations lasting right through until 6:45pm on Sunday 18th February 2018, China Town is the place to be this weekend in Liverpool.

Watch above as our cameras caught a glimpse of the official rehearsal performance of Jingwei’s Legacy lumiere show and found out more from the Culture Liverpool team. 

Continuing the ‘China Dream’ season of Capital of Culture Anniversary events, this weekend has something for all the family. Expect to see dragons, lions and even unicorns, make their way through the crowds, plus firecrackers, traditional dances, beautiful music and of course, the phenomenal Jingwei’s Legacy – an illuminated story focused on cultural diversity and spreading the message of hope that communities can live together harmoniously regardless of their backgrounds or beliefs.

With so much to see and do, we’ve got all the what’s on information you need to celebrate the Year of the Dog in China Town….

Friday 16th & Saturday 17th February 2018 – China Town

7pm – Entertainment will start from 7pm as Hung Gar Kung Fu wow crowds with an illuminated dragon and Lion  dance. There will also be performances by Chinese and British students in traditional Chinese dress and inspired by the Warring State and Hip Hop – a partnership by Pagoda Arts, Everyman Playhouse and Liverpool Confucius Institute.

7.30-8.30pm – The twelve minute long Jingwei Legacy show illuminations will be shown four times on a loop

Don’t Forget….Road Closures will be in place from 7pm until 9pm on Friday and Saturday. Great George Street will be closed from Duke Street to Upper Parliament Street, and Upper Duke Street from Rodney Street will be closed westbound only during these times.

Click here for our top Chinese restaurants and take-aways to enjoy a banquet fit for an emperor this weekend and toast the Year of the Dog. 

Sunday 18th February 2018 – China Town, Great George Square

Get yourself down to China Town from lunchtime on Sunday for all the party action as our Chinese community comes out in force to welcome the New Year in. Both parades will meet around 1pm in Great George Square where a firecracker display will take place. They will then continue on their separate routes and finish from 3.30pm.

China Town

11.45am – Dragon and Lion parade begins, starting from the Blackie.

12.15pm – Unicorn parade starts outside the Chung Wah supermarket on Nelson Street.

Great George Square Stage

11:30am – 12:15pm –  Kwong Tam School of Tai Chi (in association with See Yep Association)

12:20 – 1pm – Flower Drums, Fan Tai Chi, Dance and Happy Dance! (Pagoda Arts)

1:05 – 1:45pm – Firecracker Display – Lucky Man, Dragon and Unicorn Parades

1:45 – 2pm – Martial Arts Demonstration (Liverpool Hung Gar Kung Fu Friendship Association)

2:05 – 2:25pm – Traditional Chinese Fan Dance & Cheongsam Costume Show (Wah Sing Community Centre Dancers)

2:35 – 2:45pm – Chinese Red Lantern Dance (Friendship Dancers)

2:50 – 3:20pm – 24 Festival Drums (Liverpool Guild of Students)

3:30 – 4pm – Chinese Fusion Dance Workshop – have a go!  (Movema Dance)

16:00 – 5pm –  A showcase of traditional and contemporary music, dance and song by Chinese students (Everyman and Playhouse and Liverpool Confucius Institute)

5 – 5:30pm – Terracotta Warriors Love – A performance inspired by the fusion of Chinese Opera, Martial arts and contemporary dance. (Pagoda Arts, Everyman and Playhouse and Liverpool Confucius Institute).

5:30 – 6pm – Chinese Fusion Dance (Movema Dance & 24 Festival Drums, Liverpool Guild of Students)

Chinese Arch & Nelson Street

6.30pm – Chinese New Year lumiere – Jingwei’s Legacy

6.40pm – Pyrotechnic display

6.45pm – Event ends

Road Closures Sunday 18th February 2018

As with any city centre celebration, there’s going to be some road closures and bus services re-routed to allow everyone the space they need to enjoy the fun. Here’s a full list of the Sunday 18th February 2018 road closures,  in effect from 6am until 9pm, so you can plan your route and parking in the city.

China Town

Gt. George Street (from its junction with St James Street to its junction with Duke Street), Duke Street (from its junction with Gt. George Street to its junction with Berry Street), Upper Duke Street (from its junction with Berry Street to its junction with Rodney Street), Berry Street (from its junction with Leece Street/Renshaw Street to its junction with Duke Street), Nelson Street (from its junction with Gt. George Street to its junction with Upper Pitt Street), Grenville Street South (from its junction with Bailey Street to its junction with Cornwallis Street), Sankey Street (entire length), Griffiths Street (entire length), Seel Street (from its junction with Colquitt Street to its junction with Berry Street), Back Berry Street (entire length), Knight Street (from its junction with Berry Street to its junction with Rodney Street), Roscoe Street (from its junction with Leece Street to its junction with Upper Duke Street), Bold Place (entire length), Roscoe Lane (entire length), Back Knight Street (entire length), Cookson Street (entire length), Pitt Street (entire length), Upper Pitt Street (from its junction with Nelson Street to its junction with Hardy Street), York Street (entire length), Raffles Street (entire length), Bold Street (from its junction with Berry Street to its junction with Newington/ Renshaw St/Leece. Access to business/residents will be allowed up to 10am)

Great George Street closure requires a bus and traffic diversion for the duration of the event: Alternative Route will be via: – either Leece Street, Hardman Street, Myrtle Street, Catherine Street, Upper Parliament Street and Great George Street; or Upper Parliament Street, Grove Street, Oxford Street, Mount Pleasant, Rodney Street or Clarence Street to follow other locally signed diversion routes. All closures will be clearly signposted. 

For more information about timings, activities, family workshops or the projections, visit www.chinadreamliverpool.com or follow @culturelpool on Twitter or Culture Liverpool on Facebook.

We can’t wait to see your Chinese New Year photos. Tag us in on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram and we’ll share the best on our socials.